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Ten top ride-ons to keep the lawns looking their best

An increasing number of people are thinking about buying a ride-on mower to keep larger lawns in order and to free up time to do other things at the weekend.
Ride-ons and garden tractors also have a host of uses throughout the year – think about towing a leaf sweeper behind in the autumn or a trailer to cart wood in the winter.
And so we have compiled our list of ten top ride-ons and garden tractors we think you should look at if you are considering buying one for the forthcoming season.
As the temperatures rise and the grass starts to grow now is the best time to buy and we have a huge selection on our web pages.
And don’t forget, if you are in any doubt please call our experienced team on 08454 588905 for personal advice. They have years of experience in the garden machinery market and are there to help answer any questions you may have.

McCulloch LRV Ride-on

First on the list is one of the best value for money basic ride-ons available anywhere.
The McCulloch LRV 2-in-1 Ride-on Mower is perfect for anyone who has never owned a ride-on before – easy to drive with a cutaway design giving greater visibility enabling you to get closer to the edges of lawns and around trees.
Electric key start, 223 cc Briggs & Stratton engine, it has three forward and one reverse gears.
It has a side discharge with a collector available as an extra, but will also mulch the clippings back on to the lawn. Mulching can help improve the health of the lawn and is becoming more popular.
This model costs £899, over £200 off the manufacturer’s recommended price, and includes free delivery within the next three to five working days and a one year manufacturer’s warranty.

McCulloch ride-on mower with collector

The McCulloch LRV 3-in-1 Ride-on Mower is the previous model’s big brother and has many of the same features including the reliable Briggs & Stratton engine, large pneumatic deep tread tyres to help grip when it’s slippery, and a sprung mounted seat.
But this one has a twin-bag collector with a capacity of 150 litres so with this model you can discharge clippings to the side, or drop them straight down after mulching or collect them.
The cutting width is 66 cm making this machine perfect for lawns of over half an acre and the cutting height is adjustable from 38 to 102 mm.
This model costs just £999, a massive saving on the manufacturer’s recommended price of £1200 and comes with free delivery in the next three to five working days and a one year manufacturer’s guarantee.

MTD Lawn Garden Tractor

There are massive savings to be made on the MTD 125-96B Lawn & Garden Tractor which at only £1199 is £600 off the manufacturer’s recommended price.
This is a truly versatile lawn tractor with MTD’s shift-on-the-go transmission making it easier to control so there is no stopping to change gear – and it has five forward and five reverse gears to select.
Ideal for lawns, paddocks and orchards it can be used with a wide range of attachments like lawn rollers and sweepers.
Briggs & Stratton powered it has a steel body and a smooth stylish design.
There are a number of special offers available with this garden tractor including a twin bag catcher, towed leaf sweeper, steel trailer and even a snow plough, all at very keen prices.

Efco Storm Side Discharge lawn tractor

The Efco Storm 95/11.5T Side-Discharge Lawn & Garden Tractor is one of the best priced lawn tractors in its class with a host of top features at a very appealing price.
It has a 38 in floating cutter deck and a pivoting front axle which gives a smoother finish to your lawn as it can smooth out any lumps and bumps.
Power comes from an 11.5 hp Briggs & Stratton engine which starts easily and the drive system has a foot operated clutch allowing variable speed change through each of the seven gears.
Grass can either be mulched, discharged to the side or collected and the machine can handle both smooth lawns and rougher areas – the cut height is adjustable between 20 and 80 mm by a lever near the seat.
You can save £350 off the manufacturer’s price as this machine is on sale for £1295. The mulch plug comes free and a 200 litre twin collector bag costs £300.
Delivery is free with three to five working days and there is a three year manufacturer’s warranty on this machine.
The MD Mini Ride-on Lawn Mower

MD mini ride-on Mower

has been made in Germany especially for us and has some of the most advanced features available on any ride on.
Designed to be light in weight and yet robust, the drive is automatic so there is no stopping to change gears and it also has a very tight turning circle to help manoeuvre along lawn edges and around trees and shrubberies.
Clippings can either be mulched and returned to the lawn or collected in the traditional way into a really big 160 litre box or ejected to the side.
The Briggs & Stratton engine which is enclosed to make it quieter is electrically started and the cutting deck is free floating and the pivoting front axle gives a smoother cut.
This MD machine costs £1349, £150 off the manufacturer’s recommended price but as an added special offer you receive £100 worth of WOLF-Garten hand tools when you buy.
Delivery is free within three to five working days and there is a two year manufacturer’s warranty.
Mowdirect has a special arrangement with Mountfield as we are their official on-line partners and their 1430M Lawn Tractor

Mountfield 1430M Lawn Garden Tractor

is a real ground-breaking machine.
It has an 82 cm cut with twin blades to give a smoother cut for larger lawns. This system is cleverly designed to give non-overlapping cutting and will give an excellent finish in either dry or wet conditions.
This also helps increase the airflow and provides more efficient grass collection.
The cutting height goes right down to 25 mm for a smart neat finish or up to 80 mm for orchards and paddocks.
When the grass collector is full there is an audible warning sound which saves checking whether it is full.
Power comes from Mountfield’s own 432 engine designed with enhanced lubrication, and the engine is held in ball bearings in an oil bath.
There are six forward and one reverse gears and the fuel tank can hold six litres – less time spent filling up.
Very comfortable to drive, it even has headlights to help you work when it gets a bit murky in the evening.
At £1399 it is £200 less than the manufacturer’s listed price, comes delivered free within three to five working days and has a two year guarantee.

Efco Kommand Lawn Tractor

Next on our list is the Efco Kommand 80/12.5T Rear-Discharge Lawn Tractor which offers outstanding value for money on a professional grade machine. Easy to drive and easy to control it has a very tight turning circle with the speed controlled using a dash mounted lever.
This mower is just £1499, a big reduction on the manufacturer’s recommended price of £2049, and is powered by a 12.5 hp engine which is engineered for reliability.
The lawn tractor has the manufacturer’s ‘fast attach’ system so that all accessories can be fitted in seconds without using tools. It has a cutting width of 76 cm and a 200 litre grass collector and is ideal if you have a lawn of up to two acres. It also has twin head lights so you can carry on when it starts to get dark.
Delivery is free within three to five working days and there is a three year manufacturer’s warranty.

Now if you have larger grounds and a bigger lawn you need a more versatile machine and the MD Master Cut Lawn & Garden Tractor has been designed with that in mind.
For a start there are three ways of discharging the cuttings – to the side if you are working in paddocks or orchards, to the rear if cutting lawns or mulched and returned if that’s your preference.
Clutch and brake are combined in one foot pedal so you can move away and stop with just one foot action. And there are six forward and six reverse gears.
The pivoting front axle gives a smoother ride and a smoother finish.
Disc brakes and a tight turning circle help make the machine easier to control.
As a special promotion £100 worth of WOLF-Garten tools are included when you buy this lawn tractor and you can also purchase a steel tipping trailer for just £99, a mulch plug for £49 and a 225 litre grass collector for £350.
Free delivery within three to five working days and a two year manufacturer’s warranty are included.

If you are fortunate enough to have a really large lawn – say up to two acres -then one machine you should consider is the Lawnflite 603 G Lawn Tractor.
At £1649 it is £175 less than the manufacturer’s recommended price and comes with a free 20 litre steel jerry can and £100 worth of WOLF-Garten had tools.
This lawn tractor has turbo fan assist and a heavy duty high lift cutter blade so the clippings are thrown and blown in to the grass box through a large chute to prevent clumps of grass being left behind.
It has a generous 30 in cutting width but the way the machine is built means it is very manoeuvrable to get round flower beds trees and paths.
And as the cutter deck is offset you can mow to the very edges of the lawn.
The variable foot operated transmission means gradual smooth acceleration.
Delivery is free within three to five working days and there is a two year manufacturer’s warranty.

And for the last of the ten ride-ons and lawn tractors for your shortlist we have our own MD Shuttle Lawn & Garden Tractor which at £1799 offers unrivalled features you will not be able to better.
Designed to let you change gear on the go it combines clutch and brake in one pedal and has six forward and six reverse gears to give you maximum speed control.
Disc brakes and a tight turning circle increase driver control and it has a pivoting front axle for a smoother finish. It also has side wheels on the cutter deck to preventing shaving lumps off the lawn.
‘Hi-lift’ blades propel cuttings into the grass box and it is designed to prevent clogging even when used in the wet.
For easier storage this garden tractor has a collection unit which can simply be tilted .
As a special offer there are £100 worth of WOLF-Garten hand tools free, a steel tipping trailer for just £99, a mulching kit for £89 and a rear grass deflector for use when mowing long grass for £119.
Delivery is free within three to five working days and there is a two years manufacturer’s warranty.
These area just ten of our machines we think should consider but please browse our pages for a fuller selection.
And if you need any advice make sure you call our team on 08454 588905.

Norfolk journalist and countryman, now retired from daily newspaper life but still commentating and writing. Keen gardener, when dodgy back allows, and devout researcher of local ales and French wines. Married with two children who have flown the nest, but return regularly to empty the fridge. Living in listed country cottage which gets more expensive by the year to maintain. Retired but still writing regular columns and pieces for web sites.